Approaching the football prior to the snap should occur in the same manner each time you are preparing to snap. Whether it is a daily practice or a championship game, you should have a comfortable routine in your approach. This allows you to focus on the correct execution of your skill. An example of correct approach procedure includes always breaking out of the huddle (or running onto the field) to the ball, always starting with the football on the ground like the official would spot it, and identifying your proper body position in relationship to the football. Snapping “out of your hand” is not recommended because it can cause problems in a game situation. It is vital to apply good approach practices to help you become the best you can be.
None of us are built exactly the same way. Because of this, there will be some variance in the width of stances. The feet need to be placed wider than shoulder width to allow easily snapping the ball through the legs toward the target, but not so wide that you are in a straightlegged position.
After the approach and setting the feet in a wide two-point base, the next step is to get into a sound stance position. Keeping the heels in contact with the ground, sit back making sure that your knees do not extend out past your toes. This position is very similar to the correct position of a parallel squat. Once the feet and legs are in the correct position, place your hands on the football.
Being able to see the target is of paramount importance. If you are positioned in a stance where your tail is too low, your back will be rounded (from profile viewpoint), and it will be very difficult to see where you are snapping the ball. Also, if you get into a position in which you are looking downfield, rather than at the target, you will experience problems with accuracy. Always keep eyes on the target! To be certain that your back remains flat and that your tail is in the correct position, adhere to the following steps:
Correct hand placement is a must when snapping the football. It is recommended that you grip the ball the same way a quarterback would when throwing a pass. This hand position keeps the palms off of the football and puts your fingers in a position to provide leverage and will help to ensure a crisp release. “Build” the guide hand around the dominant hand. It is recommended that a snapper place the guide hand running parallel with the vertical seam on the back of the ball, never across the ball. No matter what grip you choose, remember to keep the thumbs spread big and avoid a lot of palm contact on the ball. The guide hand is very important to a longsnapper. It provides stability on the football, extra leverage on the snap, and also helps tremendously with rotation and accuracy.
It is hard to find a one-handed snapper nowadays, and the reason stems from inconsistencies with accurate delivery of the ball. The key is to establish what the wrist angle of the dominant hand should be when throwing the football. Once you have figured this out, it will be easy to find the right guide hand placement. A snap is essentially a throw between your legs, so place the guide hand accordingly. It is unnecessary to alter the dominant wrist throwing position in order to accommodate the guide hand. It is also important for a snapper not to under- or over-rotate the wrist. Under-rotation of the wrist will result in knuckle-ball type snaps. Over-rotation will result in a very tight spinning ball. This over-rotation puts the wrist in a poor position, limiting the range of motion of the joint. Because of this, many snappers wind up “hitching” the ball forward rather than snapping the ball cleanly from the ground to the target. Note: A hitch is a forward upswing of the football. Correct snap motion should be moving backward throughout the execution of the skill.If you notice a snap that is spinning very fast, but isn’t traveling very quickly toward the target, you probably have witnessed a snap that started from an over-rotated wrist.
The feet should also be in a two-point base without any sort of stagger. Positions on the line usually employ a stance in which one foot is dropped according to which hand is placed on the ground. For example, if the right hand is down, the right foot will be in a toe-instep stagger in relationship to the left foot. This is not the case when long snapping. Line up with a “wide linebacker” foot position. Deviating from the two-point base will cause problems in that the snap will likely be delivered wide because the staggered foot will cause the hips to turn slightly. This will result in the snapper pointing a little off center from his target. Additionally, the staggered foot position will result in the hands finishing at slightly different times. This can also contribute to a wide snap delivery.
Being able to see the target is of paramount importance. If you are positioned in a stance where your tail is too low, your back will be rounded (from profile viewpoint), and it will be very difficult to see where you are snapping the ball. Also, if you get into a position in which you are looking downfield, rather than at the target, you will experience problems with accuracy. Always keep eyes on the target! To be certain that your back remains flat and that your tail is in the correct position, adhere to the following steps:
The trajectory of the football is best controlled by hand placement. You might have had someone tell you after a high snap to keep your butt down. By lowering your tail, you will have a lower snap, but you compromise the fundamentals by doing this. Rather than getting your stance fouled up, try to move the guide hand down the ball slightly. If you gradually move the guide hand down the ball, you will find a placement that results in a lower snap, without ever altering your stance.
Arm extension is very important for a long snapper. Too much extension can result in balance and stance problems, and too little can result in a hitch. To achieve correct arm extension, a long snapper starts by locking out the arm of the dominant hand completely. Once the arm is locked out, it should be relaxed slightly at the elbow. This results in an arm that is straight, but not locked out or rigid. The arm of the guide hand may have a little more bend at the elbow depending on the placement of the guide hand. It is also important to place the ball in a manner that will ensure the best snap possible. Never place the football totally flat on the ground or allow ball to sit up on the point. Position the ball in an angle somewhere between 30 and 45 degrees. NOTE: Arms are straight, but not locked out.
Another way to help control the height of snap delivery is to experiment with the tilt of the ball. Lowering the ball away from your face straightens the arm slightly more and will result in a lower snap. It is important to keep a slight tilt on the ball when experimenting with this method. The third way to help control the trajectory of the snap deals with the release point. If after your first snap you notice that your arms finish in the groin area and after the next snap you realize you finished at the knees, your release point is likely the culprit. Work to maintain a consistent release point when snapping the football.
NOTE: A hitch is a forward upswing of the football. Correct snap motion should be moving backward toward target throughout the execution of the skill.
The finish is another important component of the longsnap. A snapper should finish with both hands coming through equally with the hands pointing toward the target. A good hand finish will result in the hands parallel to one another with the palms out to the sides and the thumbs up. Ideally finish in a "Plus-Position" with the hands following through evenly; legs are straight. By doing this, the snapper is getting the most power and energy out of his fingers and wrists and is also increasing the likelihood of an accurate snap. Problems in accuracy result if the hands come through unevenly or if a snapper favors his dominant hand. Strive to use the hands in unison. On every snap, work to get your legs locked out at release. This generates the most power out of the leg explosion. As you snap, the straightening of the legs will result in you sliding backward toward the target. DO NOT hop backwards! The natural motion of the snap will cause you to move backward. Work to improve low-back and hamstring flexibility to better allow this type of leg-action to occur.
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